Switch.



E. E. COOK.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZS. I9I4.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

'Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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IIIII IIIIII HH l E. E. COOK.

SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23.@ 1912l 1 ,2 l 5,492'. Pteuted Feb. 13; 1917.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, VIIIIII I L [III/III 11111111111111111111 UmTED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.-

ELMER E. COOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

'.swITcH.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application led March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,687.

To all lwhom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ELMER E. CooK, a citizen of the United States, and' a resident of -the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and

State of Illinois, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in Switches, of

f eflicient in use;

. claimed.

which the following is a specification'.

My-invention relates to switches and more speclcally to a switch the operation of whichis vcontrolled by a combination lock-so as to render' operation of the switch impossible without knowledge of the combination of the lock. l

The object of my invention is the production of a switch as mentioned which will be of durable and economical'construction and Other objects' will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the combinations and arrange-v ments of parts hereinafter described vand i The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and

which* y Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in sec-- tion, of a switch embodying myinventiom,

:being looped around said screws asclearly shown 1n Fig. 7. A sheet 16 of insulating material is interposed between the under side of block l2-and the bottom of body 8 to prevent contact. of the inner ends of said or nuts with said body. v

` Arranged upon the front side of the block 12 is adisk 17 circular inform which is fixed in a metallic carrier 18 also of circular form which'is rotatably mounted upon the outer or forward end of body'8. Arranged in the underside of the. disk `17 is a bar 19 of con ducting material which is secured in position by screws 20.` The bar 19 is so positioned that' through rotation of carrier 18 and hence the disk 17,-said bar may bebrought into registration .with the contact vpoints'l and 13 to electrically connect the same so asv to close the circuit between wires` 15 and 15' or, to position said bar out -of-,registration with said contact points as shown in Fig. 5, in which position of said bar, the circuit through the switch will'be broken.

The carrier 18- is lockedv to the body 8by means of a' rearwardly 'andv inwardly ex.-

tending engaging flange'21 provided at the periphery thereof which is-'adapted to intervlock with outwardlyprojectin engaging p'e- Y Fig. 24 is a section taken on substantially line 2 2 of Fig. l, y i. d

is a bottom plan viewof the switch, the support thereforebeing shown in section,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on substantially line 4 4 of Fig. l, i.

Fig.. 5 is-a section taken von substantially line 5-5vof Fig. 4,and A l Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary detail sections taken on' substantiallylines 6-1-6 and 7-'7 respectively of Figs. 5 and 3.A

1 screws as shown which are secured in said block by means of nuts 14.k Said screws arie v connected with the line or circuit lwires 15. and 15 in conjunction with which the riphe'ral flanges 22 provide at-opposite sides of said body as .clearly shown .in Figs.,-

1 and5. Pins 23 'arrangedv in the peripheral portion of the disk 17 are positioned in the path ofone ofthe engaging flanges 22 and serve as means of limiting the `amplitude of oscillation orrotation of said carrier as will 4be readily understood.v Thel flange 21' is cut away at oppositesides as at 24 so that when it is desired to disconnect` or remove the carrier 18, it is only necessary to remove onevof thepins `23 and to rotate said carrier to eect registration of theportions `24l with the flanges 22, in which event `the flange 21 will be disengaged from said flanges 22 so as to permit of lifting the carrier from position.

normally locked againstrotation with the bar 19 out of registration with the contact points 13 and 13, by means of sectional switch is employed, the ends of said' wires pins-25 which are loosely mounted inv sockets formed as shownin the members k12, 17 and 18. Each of said pins consists of two .sec,

tions, the arrangement being such that, when one or more of the joints between the contiguous ends of the sections of said pinsv are'out of yregistration with the jointl be- The carrier 18 and hence the disk. 17 are" it is desired to unlock the carrier 18 and hence' member 17 it is necessary to depress.

inward movement of the latter.

which normally hold said pins at their outer terminals of movement or in positions in' which the joints in some of said pins are in registration with the joint between the members 12 and 17 and in' which the joints in the remainder of said pins are out of registrationwith said joint between said members 12 and 17 as clearly shown in Fig.

y, Manipulation of said pins in order to effect registration of all of the joints thereof with the joint between the members 12 andy 17 is effected by means of depressibl'e members 27 which arel loosely mounted in an.

enlargement 28 formed at the outer side of the carrier 18. The members 27 are notched for engagement with the `outer ends of pins 25 and are provided with inclined surfaces 29 so that, upon depression of said members 27, said inclined surfaces, engaging with the adjacent ends of said pins, will cause Helical compression springs 80 coperate with thc members 27 to normally hold the latter at their outer terminals of movement. The arrangement is such that upon depression of the'members 27 which coperate with the pins 2'8 wherein the joints are out of registration with the joint between the members 12 and 17, said pins will be moved inwardly, through depression of said members 27, to such a position that the joints therein will register with the joint between the members 12 and 17. This being so, when the members 27 whichcoperate with the pins 25 whose joints are out of registra-v tion with the' joint between the members `12and 17 since if the 'other of said members 27 are' depressed, the remaining pins 25 whose joints are already in registration with the joint between members 12 and 17 will be moved to destroy this vregistration and thus prevent the desired unlocking. With this arrangement therefore it is necessary that the operator have knowledge as to which members 27 must be operated in order to manipulate the pins 25 which are in nonregistering positions.

The switch is especially adapted for use upon automobiles to prevent surreptitious operation thereof, it being clear that with a switch of the construction set forth interposed in the electric ignition system of the automobile engine, it would be impossible for any one except those having knowledge of the combination to unlock the switch 1n order to close the circuit in which the same is included. The exteriorlyprojecting portions' of the members 27 are preferably marked, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, so as to aid in learning the combination of the exteriorly projecting surfaces of said members which would serve to apprise a person as to which of said members should be oper- A ated and thus defeat the purpose of the switch. With the sockets in which said members 27 yare mounted cut away as mentioned the exterior appearance of all of said members will be the same and therefore will -be of no assistance in an effort to ascertain the combination through examination of the exterior surface of the device; The mem'- bers 27 are locked in position in the `bearing member 28 by means of .transversely extending pins 32, the upper sides of said members 27 being recessed or cut away as at 33 to accommodate said pins and permit of the desired depressing movement of sai-d `members as will be readily understood.

Formed upon the outer side of the carrier 18 is a lip 34 adapted toserve` as a finger piece to facilitate rotation of said carrier in operating the switch.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation vand modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, thedevice may be used in conjunction with more than one circuit it being clear that any number of contact points 13 and connector bars 19 may be arranged in the members 12 and 17 I, therefore,rdo not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope ofthe appende claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure-by Letters Patent is: p

1. A switch comprisin in combination, a fixed element, a rotatab ev element, contact ilo members on said elements adapted to engage when said rotatable element is in operatlve position, a plurality of movably mounted sectional pins for normally locking said rotatable element in inoperative position, and

manually operable means for individually' manipulating said pins to unlock said rotatable` element, substantially as described.

2. lA switch comprising in combination, a fixed element, arotatable element, contact members on said elements adapted to engage when said yrotatable element is in operative position, a plurality of movably mounted sectional pins `for normally locking said. rotatable element in inoperative position, manually operable means for individually manipulating said pins to unlock said rotatable element and means on said rotatable element engaging between the fingers of the hand manipulating said manually operable means whereby said rotatable element may be readily turned While holding the device in unlocked position, substantially as described.

3. A switch comprising in combination, a fixed element, a rotatable element, contact members on said elements adapted to engage when said rotatable element is in inoperative position; a plurality of sectional pins movably mounted in elongated sockets extending perpendicularly of the joint between and into the contiguous surfaces of said elements, for releasably locking said rotatable element in inoperative position, each of said pins consisting of two sections arranged end to end, said rotatable element being locked in inoperative position by said pins except when the joints between the contiguous ends of said pin sections are in registration with the joint between the contiguous surfaces ot' said fixed and rotatable elements; spring held manually depressible members extending at substantially right angles to said pins for individually moving the latter, and means on said rotatable member engaging between the fingers of the hand operating said depressible means, substantially as described.

4. A switch comprising in combination, a fixed element, a rotatable element, contact members on said elements adapted to engage when said rotatable element is in inoperative position; a plurality of sectional pins movably mounted in elongated sockets extending perpendicularly of the joint between and into the contiguous surfaces of said elements, for releasably locking said rotatable element in inoperative position, each of said pins consisting of two sections arranged end to end, said rotatable element being locked in inoperative position by said pins except when the joints between the contiguous ends of said pin sections are in registration with the joint between the contiguous surfaces of said fixed and rotatable elements; spring held depressible members having exteriorly projecting portions adapted for manual engagement to individually move said pins, and means on said rotatable member engaging between the fingers of the hand operating said depressible means, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the

v combination of a cup-formed circular body;

a circular relatively fixed element secured in said body; a second circular relatively movable element rotatably mounted upon said fixed element; a rotatable carrier in which said movable element is fixed; a connection between said carrier and said body locking the same together but permitting of limited rotary movement of said carrier; spaced contact points on said fixed element; means on said movable element adapted, when the latter is in one position, to register with and electrically connect said contact points; a plurality of sectional pins for normally locking said movable element against rotation; a corresponding number of manually operable means for individually manipulating said pins to unlock said elements, substantially as described.

6. In a. device of the class described, the combination of a cup-formed circular body closed upon one side and open at the other; a circular relatively fixed element secured in said body adjacent the closed side; a second circular relatively movable element rotatably mounted within said body upon said fixed element adjacent the open side; a carrier to which said movable element is fixed, said carrier closing the open face of said body; interlocking flanges at the peripheries of said carrier and body locking the same together but permitting of limited rotary movement of said carrier; spaced contact points on said fixed element; means on said movable element adapted, when the latter is in one position, to register with and electrically connect said Contact points; a plurality of sectional pins for .normally locking said movable element against rotation; and man- A ually operable means for manipulating said pins to unlock said element, substantially as described.

'l'. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cup-formed circular body closed upon one side and open at the other; a relatively fixed element secured in said body adjacent the closed side; a relatively movable element rotatably mounted within said body upon said fixed element adjacent the open side; a carrier to which said movable element is fixed, said carrier closing the open face of said body; interlocking fianges at Athe p'eripheries of said carrier and body locking the same together but permitting of limited rotary movement of said carrier, portions of said flanges being cut away to permit of detachment of said carrier when the remaining portions of the fiange of each of said parts register with the cut away portions of the flange of the other; spaced contact points on said fixed element; means on said rotatable element adapted, when the latter is in one position, to register with and electrically connect said contact points; a plurality of sectional pins for normally locking said rotatable element against rotation; and manually `operable means for manipulating said pins to unlock said element, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a body; a relatively fixed element secured'ii said body; ay relatively movable element rotatably mounted upon said fixed element; a carrier in which said movable element is fixed; said carrier having a transverse enlargement upon the outer face thereof, a connection between said carrier and said body locking the same together but permitting of limited rotary movement of said carrier; spaced contact points on said ixed element; means on said rotatable element adapted, when the latter is in one position, to register with and electrically connect said contact points; a plurality of sectional pins movably mounted in elongated slots extending perpendicularly of the joint between and into the contiguous surfaces of said elements and into the said transverse enlargement ot the carrier, each of said pins consisting ot' two sections arranged end to end, said rotatable element being locked in position by said pins except when the. joints between the contiguous ends of said pin sections are in registration with the joint between the contiguous surfaces of said fixed and rotatable elements; manually operable plungers mounted in said enlargement on said carrier for manipulating said pins, said plungers projecting from one edge of said enlargement and a radial flange on the face of said carrier adapted to engage between the lingers of the hand operating said plungers, substantially as described.

9. ln a device of the' kind described, the combination of a fixed element; a rotatably mounted element; spaced contact points on said lixed element; means on said rotatable element adapted, when the latter is in operative position, to register with and electrically connect said contact points7 and adapted, when said rotatable element is in inoperative position, to be positioned out of registration with said contact points; a plurality of movably mounted sectional pins for normally locking said rotatable element in inoperative position; and manually operable depressible means having cam surfaces adapted for engagement with said pins whereby the latter may be individually mimica manipulated to unlock said rotatable element, substantially as described.

l0. In a device of the class described, a

fixed member and a rotary member, contacts on the adjacent faces of said members, a plurality of locking elements comprising spring pressed split pins, a corresponding number of plungers for operating said pins, said plungers being arranged in said rotary member, and the portions of said rotary element surrounding the outer portions of the plungers being cut away to avoid contacting the outer portions of' said plungers, substantially as described.

11. A switch comprising a fixed element and a rotatable element, contacts on said elements,- a transverse enlargement on the outer face of therotatable element, a plurality of split pins extending through said elements to lock the same in inoperative position, the ends of said pins extending into said transverse enlargement, and plungers mounted in said'enlargement at right angles to said pins and having cam faces engaging the saine, substantially as described.

12. A switch comprising a fixed element and a rotatable element, contacts on said elements, a transverse enlargement on the outer face of the rotatable element, a plurality of split pins extending through said elements to lock the same in inoperative position, the ends of said pins extending into said transverse enlargement, plungers mounted in said enlargement at right angles to said pins and having cam faces engaging the same, and a flange projecting from the face of said rotatable member adjacent said enlargementand at substantially right angles thereto7 as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ELMER E. COOK. Witnesses JOSHUA R. H. PoTTs, HELEN F. LILLIs., 

